Ridgewood’s Rettos to play basketball at Heidelberg

Ridgewood High School senior Kalie Rettos (center) signed her letter of intent to play basketball at Heidelberg University. She is pictured with her mom and dad Nicole and Michael Rettos. (Submitted)

Kalie Rettos was able to cross one more item off her senior year list when she signed her letter of intent to play college basketball at Heidelberg University.

The Ridgewood High School senior played both volleyball and basketball in high school, but knew basketball was the one she wanted to play in college.

“I feel like it’s more competitive than any other sport,” Rettos said. “You are up close and personal and not hiding behind a net.”

In addition to Heidelberg she looked at Muskingum University and Ohio Wesleyan University.

“I absolutely loved the campus at Heidelberg,” Rettos said. “That sold it for me, and their education program is outstanding.”

Her mother Nicole also liked the campus.

“I just loved how everything was set up and that there are 14 to 16 kids in a classroom,” Nicole said. “It’s small and very safe. It’s a beautiful little campus.”

Kalie plans to major in elementary education while also playing guard on Heidelberg’s women’s basketball team.

“I want to thank all my Ridgewood coaches, my AAU coaches and my parents,” she said. “Playing on my travel team gave me more exposure than what Ridgewood could. Not a lot of coaches come to small town schools like Ridgewood.”

Rettos started playing travel ball in eighth grade.

“By playing on the travel team I got to experience talent that I couldn’t really experience in high school,” she said. “You are playing against almost stacked teams. I love basketball and that it’s a contact sport and competitive. You don’t have to wait for anything to happen. It’s a constant game.”

She is looking forward to a new atmosphere at college.

“Basically, it’s me against everyone else fighting for the same spot,” Rettos said. “In high school I knew I had my spot. In college you never know because it’s all on recruiting.”

Nicole and Kalie’s father Michael have loved watching her play over the years and are glad she gets to continue on.

“It’s been the best experience of my life watching her grow up on the court,” Nicole said. “It was always her passion. She loves it and it is so much fun to watch. She is very bubbly off the court, but when she gets on the court she is straight business. The intensity she has for the game makes her so much fun to watch.”

Michael added that Kalie has matured and become a better teammate and leader over the years.

“She could have been negative about things over the last four years, but she kept working hard and took more of an attitude of wanting to turn the program around,” he said. “Playing basketball in college is something she’s always wanted to do, and we did everything in our power to help her live out her dream. It’s nice to see that come true especially because of how hard she’s worked.”

Kalie’s advice to her younger teammates wanting to go on and play in college is to keep working hard and set goals.

“Try to accomplish every one of your goals but look at each one and then the next one,” she said. “Don’t try to do them all at once.”

Category: High School, Sports